Ledley King still two weeks away from Spurs comeback as defender battles thigh injury

Tottenham skipper Ledley King faces at least another fortnight on the sidelines nursing his thigh injury before returning to help the club's challenge for a Champions League place.

The 29-year-old centre-back, who has taken the armband back since Robbie Keane's loan move to Celtic, has been out since picking up the problem in the victory at Wigan on February 21.

While Jermain Defoe is set to return to the starting XI for Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash against Blackburn, King is understood to be two weeks away from a possible comeback.

King is an automatic choice for Spurs boss Harry Redknapp but cannot play matches in quick succession and rarely trains due to a chronic knee condition, which may also leave him prone to picking up other injuries.

Redknapp already has defender Jonathan Woodgate likely to miss the rest of the campaign, while Tom Huddlestone, Jermaine Jenas, Aaron Lennon and David Bentley are also currently in the treatment room as Spurs look to stay fourth in the table.

Defoe started on the bench at the weekend against Fulham due to a tight hamstring but he could return against Blackburn.

Also returning are Kyle Walker and Younes Kaboul after being ineligible for the FA Cup draw at Craven Cottage.

Kaboul has only started one game since returning to White Hart Lane from Portsmouth in January.

'It's good to have a lot of players because when there are a lot of games you can change things around,' said the Frenchman.

'Of course, only 11 can play so that means you have to fight every day in training to play at the weekend and I'm ready for that.'

Kaboul, along with Michael Dawson and Sebastien Bassong, provide cover for King's absence at centre-back but Redknapp will want his captain back before the middle of April, when Spurs play Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United in consecutive league matches.